Here's my belly for the collection. I don't mind how my stomach looks but it doesn't always feel good. I have IBS and sometimes my guts are unhappy but I love them anyway.

-Felicia

I’ve had a really hard time accepting my body. Growing up, I was borderline on an eating disorder. I wouldn’t eat in front of anyone, even my family, because I thought they’d just look at me and say “Why does she think she needs to eat more? She’s big enough as it is!” Looking back, it was ridiculous. That all happened when I was skinny. I’ve since gained probably 50 pounds. While it’s been difficult to deal with the weight gain sometimes, the part I’ve always loved about myself is my stomach. It’s the smallest part about me. I have a big butt, big thighs, big boobs, big arms, a round face, and a mostly flat stomach. It took me a while to get used to the fact that after the weight gain I now have stretch marks on my stomach, but now I just look at them as a matching set for the ones on my sides! Lately I’ve been on a self-acceptance kick, and I absolutely love my curves!

I think more people need to learn to embrace their bodies and realize that life isn’t about being small. Life is for living, and all shapes and sizes can be beautiful!

-Hannah, 20

I've hated my belly since starting menoupause and gaining weight from a drug i take for Fibromyalgia; the belly pictures in your photo essay are SO life-affiriming and body-embracing that I've got tears running down my cheeks. Rock on your bad self.

Attached is a photo of my newly 50 year old never-been-pregnant just-starting-menopausal belly. Not bad for an old lady who hasnt exercised in two years!

-Sara

I've always been self-conscious about my size 12 tummy and my weight in general. But after taking this kinda grainy picture, I have to say it really doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. I actually have some pretty awesome curves! 

--Teddi, 22

I'm learning to be happy with my stomach now, I've lost some weight since this time last year (15-20 lbs) and notice it now, I just need to get back into a routine for yoga/exercise and I'll be fulfilled.

-Rachel, 24

When looking at my belly picture I found myself intensely judging myself and comparing my belly to those in the media. Now after  seeing everyone else embracing who they are, I'm letting go. I love my  curves and my skin!

-Deanna, 21

I love that everything inside my belly is healthy. I do core exercises to keep those shielding-muscles strong and protect my organs, instead of to look better.

I also love my barbell. I went through a hard thing a couple of years ago, and I acted out by piercing my belly button! No one could see it, so no haters could judge me! It was my pretty secret. It was the beginning of an emotional transformation that lead me to running a half marathon, becoming a yoga instructor, and pursuing other athletic goals!

I love my stomach..I learned to embrace it, we have our ups and downs but for the most part we get along great! Don't pay any attention t my right side that bulges more than the left. I have a scar on my back in the general area and that's where they had to pull skin from.

This was more difficult than I thought. Especially the part about not sucking in. I do love my belly when it is just the 2 of us...it is very soft and rotund. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when it is around other people. I think this project is making me feel more comfortable with it though. It feels good to bare my belly to you!

I'm 32, have 2 kids...lost a little, gained a little. For once I'm happy to find pants that dont fall off my hips and I finally have a butt :) Its not all bad

This is my belly.

My mom has been telling me my entire life that I need to lose weight and then I'd be beautiful. She's clearly wrong. This is my size 14 belly and I think it looks wonderful.

- Joelle

I have 1 daughter, age 17. I used to use Meth & when I was using, I was skinny, I currently weigh 228 lbs. & am clean.

I'm also Diabetic and due to medication I take, have skin breakouts, hence the red spots. I'm still not 100% with my body or my belly, but I'm getting there ... and that's all that matters.

-K. C.,  37

Complete w/ African beads. ;-)

I think that what you are doing is fantastic! I have always hated my belly, but in taking this picture, it's not so bad!! My left love handle is like double the size of my left. Fact, lol! And it doesnt look so bad! 

-Danielle, 26

I love the tiny mole on my belly. My nieces ask to see it whenever they visit and try to pull it off. I love that when I sit, the crease in the middle of my belly is a bit crooked. I love that my belly is strong and soft at the same time. And I like it best when my belly is full.

- Amanda, 34

It was so hard taking this picture. Not emotionally, but practically. My arms aren't really long enough to get the whole thing in the frame. Those stretch marks aren't from my pregnancy, btw. When I had my daughter it got firmer but not really any bigger. No, those are from puberty, when my hips filled in about for inches bigger than expected. I don't love my belly every day, but I almost never hate it anymore which I consider an enormous achievement. I'm sending you my tum because some day my kid will be old enough to hate her body, and I hope by then we will have made that a much less common thing to do.

-NINA

After an eating disorder in high school, I finally love my belly years later! It keeps me strong during running and yoga.

Here's a pic of me and Miss Bettie Page struttin' our stuff. 

After losing 80 lbs and then gaining 30 of them back, me and my tummy have have been on the outs recently. But taking this picture was a real bonding experience, and I'm so glad I did it.

--Aundrea, 22

This is my belly. It has carried 3 beautiful children delivered via C section. I still have a hard time looking but am more comfortable as time goes on.

Ivonne, 41

I have a few scars from having my appendix removed but they aren't very visible unless you know where to look :) I can't say I'm comfortable with my current weight but my partner loves my belly so I do too :)

-Rachie, 21

I'm more of a recent belly-lover, but I'm so frickin' glad I've joined the club. 5 reasons why I'm a fan of my abdomen:

1. It has stretch marks! More specifically on my hips and around my belly button, but they're there, and they're there to stay. I used to be real self conscious of them, but they tell the story of pubescent weight gain, anorexia-induced weight loss, and the state of full-fledged confidence and recovery. AWESOME!

2. It has scars! I've had a mole removed and a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. Nothing too big or "impressive," but still worth a story or two! 

3. It stores nutritious and delicious food! Such as beef stew, tiramisu, and pineapple yogurt! 'Nuff said.

4. It's slightly hairy and quite soft! WOOHOO!

5. It allows me to walk, talk, run, laugh, and live. Basically a win situation!

-Natalie, 20

23, no kids. Just chub, perpetual fold lines and angry ingrown hairs (lesson learned: leave the happy trail be!). I'll consider an ab workout when the temp hits 75 again. 

Two babies and 40 pounds lighter, this is my tummy. My husband loves my curves and that makes me feel sexy. :-)

This is one seriously battered belly! I've got acute (really bad pain) recurring (it comes and goes) idiopathic (they don't know what cuases it) pancreatitus (inflammation of the pancreas). Which is why it's a bit puffy on my right side, my pancreas is kicking up a bit of a fuss today. As a result I've had a part of my pancreas removed, my gall bladder removed, a gastrojujunostomy (re-routing of my digestive tract) and various drains and feeding tubes stuck in me. And I love food so much you're looking at a size 18 never-occupied-by-children belly. At least it tells a story. PS Im a bit of a never nude so this is kind of a big deal. 

 Morgan- 28

This is a recent pic of mah belly and I was enjoying some fun in the sun in Las Vegas back in September. I am from Harlem, NY, 5'1, 150-155lbs, work out from time to time and actually think that I need to lose more weight for a tighter tummy, but I love how soft and smooshy it is! I also hate losing weight at times because it robs me of my natural curves ALL OVER ( I love my big booty and thighs :) and you can't spot train your body...you lose weight all over). I noticed you didn't have any African-American belly pics so here I am! Also, after seeing other tummy shots, I kinda feel normal, and happy to have my belly!   Oh and that's a tattoo of the Pisces sign with a fish on each side of the sign! #PISCESRULEBABY!

-Theresa

This is my belly. it took much too long to love it... I'm sorry, belly.

26 and no kids, yet. This is my unbelievably soft belly after lasagna. I've always hated how my stomach never shaped up like my arms and legs did with diet and exersice, but I have very recently accepted my body because it's a nice size 4 and my husband has never complained; quite the opposite actually, and he worships the peach fuzz under my navel. Plus I can get away with a cold beer or a little desert and it will be the same tomorrow. 

It has lines from sitting down, a few freckles and shallow inny (no lint for me). I am hoping my wide hips will make giving birth easier- my husband's head is so big, his mother used to cut the neck of his shirts :/

I've never been a huge fan of my belly, even before my first pregnancy stretch mark.  After my son was born, I was left with not only a ton of stretch marks from all three pregnancies, but with C-section damage that made my belly hang over for the first time in my life.  

I have some weight I plan to lose, but my skin will always sag. Am I depressed about it?  Not at all. The stretch marks represent my babies, as does the incision scar and skin hangover. The stretch marks above my belly button fully represent our second child; our stillborn Sadie Ruth. Those marks will always remind me of those precious nine months I carried the sweet baby girl I never got to know.

~Jenn

My belly frustrates me sometimes but I can't hate it. It carried my daughter and even with my *zebra* stripes it still looks half decent

Plus...

My belly still loves me even though I put it thru two eating disorders and random weight loss and gains...there are days when I highly dislike it and other days when I think it looks pretty darn awesome. Today is an inbetween day and I wasn't to happy with it til I saw the other pretty bellies.

I like these bellies better than any super model belly.

<3 love,peace and bellies

This is my belly. I have been a type 1 diabetic for 8 (going on 9) years now hence my Omnipod Insulin pump that I am sporting. My belly looks much nicer in this photo due to my horribly lit bedroom. Anyways, I obsess over my belly daily. I have never liked it. As I am sitting here thinking about it though, I have to appreciate it for its ability to store my pump (which looks huge in this picture by the way!). Meh, it actually isn't bad at all. I like my belly.

- Arcadia, 20 years young!

This is my belly... I have never loved it more. It's not perfect, but I wouldn't want it to be... I love and honour my body, if I don't how can anyone else? 

Hi.  If you are still taking bellies, here is mine after a recent tummy tuck. I know that these pictures are all about loving your body and accepting yourself, and I wondered if I would see any tucks represented.

I wish I could have loved my belly, but I couldn’t.  For me, having this surgery was the best thing I could have done; I love my belly now, scar and all. My confidence has soared and I am enjoying new clothes and a new relationship with life!

- Tracey

My belly carried my baby girl for 38 weeks and 5 days until my C-section to deliver her. She's now nearly 16 months :o) I never thought my belly would bounce back after a C-section, but I am very proud of it! I think my 2 moles give it character, kind of like Cindy Crawford. Complete with a faint red line above my belly button from slouching while I sit at my computer :o)

Danielle, 25

I used to hate my belly, it was full of 250 pounds of fat, even after I lost 100 pounds, I thought "This is so gross and sags like crazy." I hated all the faded stretch marks. Eventually, I looked at my belly and saw beauty. I love it! I love that it's mushy, I love that I can pooch it out and look pregnant after I eat, I love that I am the only person I know who can do a wave with their belly. It's cute and fun and I LOVE IT!!!  

I got called Kelly-Belly when I was a kid, and I hated it, even though my belly probably wasn't anything to be embarassed about.  

A picture of my Kelly-Belly is attached.  You can just barely see the red lines from the rolls that have shaped her since I was 8 or so. People often compliment me on my good posture when I'm sitting, but few know that my posture got so good because if I slouched, my rolls stuck out.  

I still have the posture, but my belly confidence is also much better these days. I like my waist, and I even have some little oblique muscles poking out from lots of exercises and yoga. You can't see the rest of her muscles, but that's 'cause me and Belly love rich, quality food. She's strong, and she puts up with all manner of abuse- stress, nerves, cheese, vodka, fried food, whisky, Ab Ripper X, a piercing.  And she does it graciously. 

Hopefully one day she'll be a cozy home for some babies, too :)

I love my belly because it looks like my moms. Something about that makes me feel close to her :-) I also have a bingo board and poppy flower tattoo on the side to remind me of my mommom and Poppop. Viva la bellies!

I am currently in treatment for an eating disorder. I am looking forward to being able to look at this picture, and not cry. What you are doing here is absolutely amazing. It is one of the most inspiring things I have seen. Thank you. 

After 2 pregnancies and a big dinner. I have just recently started liking my belly again. It is the right amount of soft and my boys seem to love playing with it. 

-Melissa,24

I donated a kidney to a young man from my church...best decision I have ever made but my belly isn't too happy! 

For years I have been ashamed/embarrassed by the fact that I wasn't a "size 2," but not any more. My belly carried my beautiful daughter (7 pounds 11 1/2 ounces) and as you can see, she loves poking Mommy's belly (she's now 2). :-) I give every woman credit who have the strength and courage to show a part of their body that many are to ashamed to expose. Because of your courage, it has inspired me to send in my photo as well! Thank you all so much!!!!!

I'm a sophomore in college and I ALWAYS see girls starving themselves or on crazy diets to look perfect. My body has imperfections (I am very hairy, especially on my stomach) I used to hate that I had a wide squared shaped belly, but now I embrace it hair and all.  I am currently learning to belly dance! LOVE MY BELLY!!!

Joelle, 19

My belly has been through a lot, including gallbladder removal and exploratory laparoscopy.  This picture is my belly after a physical therapy session for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (the blue is Kinesio tape).  I also have Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and flare ups of this disease cause my belly to be hugely swollen (affectionately known as "swelly belly" in the IC world).  It may not be the prettiest belly in the world, but I have to take care of it because it's the only one I got!  

8 months pregnant with twin babies at age 21.

Here's my belly! It has carried four babies and now it is their main pillow!

- Tara

Chubby childhood. Constant self- doubts. 8 years of yoga. Dancing machine. 34" 25" 36." Seat for baby- cousins,  neices, and nephews. Constant self-doubts. Beast on a bike. Support for tiny breasts. Shelf for heavy items. Lifter of weights. Pillow for lovers' heads. Constant self- doubts. thousands of crunches. table for snacks.  bane of my existence. site of my disease. site of my wakening. gluten- free. 

My core is strong. My curves have never led me wrong. My belly deserves respect. 

-Jennifer H.

I think that I've been afraid to wear a bikini for too long because of my c-section scar but after actually taking pictures of my belly I realized that I love that it adds character to my pretty girl belly :)

- Danielle, 25

I hate my belly.  I've never had kids, work out and I still don't have abs!  :(  I'm a breast cancer survivor and sat on my ass for a year and that didn't help. I'm 41 and I'm trying really hard to get my tummy back in shape.  I don't like what I see. But thank you for allowing us to post what real bellies look like. It is helpful to see what real women look like. 

- Hope

I grew really tall really fast when I hit puberty and the large red stretchmarks are my forever reminder of that. I normally hate showing my stomach but your project inspired me to show that I'm not a freak and its OK to have stretchmarks. Thank you for what you did.

-Kayla, 19

I am thankful to my belly for being cushy enough to handle the infusion sets I have to put into it every three days because of my Diabetes. (The infusion set is the white thing that releases insulin under my skin.) However, I have only come to love it after something wonderful my boyfriend had to say about it

I have always had self-confidence issues and hid my belly away from the world since the age of 6. For the first year of dating, I refused to even let my boyfriend (now of 6 years) see it. Finally, he simply said to me " Your belly is a part of you; it keeps you alive and well. How could I not love it? " Needless to say, my belly has gotten a lot more love- from him and myself- than it had before. 

-Martha 

 I'm getting married in 2 1/2 weeks and planned to lose weight for the wedding, but didn't - looking at this picture though, I'm am happy with the way it looks and i can't wait to rock down the aisle!

I love the idea of the unphotoshopped bellies! Every year I try and torture myself into getting my 17-year-old belly back, only to gain more weight in the process. Here is my size 12 belly in all of its glory. It's the biggest it's ever been and yet this is the most comfortable I been in my body and the most love I've given to it in my entire life. Who couldn't love this soft, loving belly?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, 

Why must I compare to all,

The airbrushed bellies I have seen,

Idealized on page and screen?

Instead, I vow that I will dare,

To love, appreciate, and share,

My belly, be it round or flat.

Hey Media, whatcha think of that? 

- Amanda, 35

The only time I've shown anyone my belly, other than my husband and my two kids. Before kids, I was 35lbs lighter, with a nice tight stomach, and a furious love for Pilates. Now, I eat healthy, and am active as hell, but can't seem to shake the pounds. My kids LOVE my belly though, and my 3 year old son loves to blow "raspberries" on it. I also like to do the suction cup thingie with my finger in my bellybutton, and take great pleasure in hearing my the "pop"! that happens when I pop my finger out of it. My stretch marks have faded, and I'm definitely OK with that. So here's my belly, in all it's baby carryin', food storin', jiggly glory. Enjoi! 

-Sandy

My name is Kimberly. My belly has seen lots of things. This past year, it has seen a tattoo gun. The tattoo on my belly is honestly supposed to originally be a grenade pin in the middle of my boobs to represent my boyfriend. Because I was cocky, it didn't come out the way I wanted it to. When I stand up straight the grenade pin looks like a balloon.

Most recently today, my belly has experienced a banana, cereal, a ham sandwich, sushi, pomegranate yogurt with blackberries, a small back of fritos and salmon n rice.

-Kimberly

When I was in high school, my belly was an instrument in a band.I laid across someone's lap and they played me like a drum. Even now at size 16, my bellybutton is still very musically inclined.

I am 44 and was ashamed of my "outie" belly button most of my life, to the point where my parents considered getting me plastic surgery as an adolescent. I'm more than happy with it now, even though it went from a cute little divet to a sideways line:) Its all good:)

- Kim

I am not fond of my belly but every stretch mark tells a beautiful story of 3 beautiful boys that I carried in my body at one point or another and that is never anything to be ashamed of. This is an amazing idea and I am proud to be a part of it.

This is what my PCOS belly looks like.  According to many comments "people who truly have a disease causing belly fat are rare." Try telling that to the five other women I know with this condition; it's more common than is diagnosed.  

Bottom line is that you cannot judge anyone, from the outside looking in. Confidence, not arrogance, will always be the epitome of self-worth. Bellies come in all shapes and sizes, and all are beautiful, and more importantly worthy; simply because they exist. If media and Photoshop hadn't brainwashed us, we would already know this.  

Always ask yourself who stands to make money; chances are if it's some company telling you that anything about your body is wrong, here's a secret: They're not doing it for your benefit.

~Anna

I have had a love hate relationship with my belly my whole life. The older I get, the more I appreciate it for all the athletic things it allows me to do. I'm a dance instructor, and I can hold a headstand longer than all my hip hop students!

- Jenna, 28

This is my belly...the scar around my belly button and the scar by my hip is from donating a kidney almost 6 months ago. Lately I've been self conscience about the scars but it gives me a story to tell and my belly character!

-Veronica, 25

This is my forty year old belly I've never had kids, but one day last summer I had a little to much su.n Ouch!

This is my belly with jeans marks and scars from my hysterectomy.

-Amanda, 29

Something good about my belly ... it is soft and a little round.  To use the words of someone else who submitted ... we get along well when it's just the two of us! My belly has put up with years of me thinking it wasn't good enough, and now it will be happy to know I love it as it is. Another good thing ... being a little round and cushy will make it easier for my belly to support the little ones I plan on putting into it.

- Candice, 27

This is my BEAUTIFUL Belly Dancer Belly. And Though I get flack for it often, called names, horrible things, I still love myself, and know that when I shimmy on stage it moves in a beautiful way. It is strong, soft, elegant, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

I am happy to have survived back to back brain surgeries, and after all that honestly, I am so grateful to be alive that I feel (though I have always felt this way) that Everyone is beautiful, not just because of, but despite their differences.

After years of obsessing over what size, what color, or how toned my belly is, I've finally learned to feel beautiful in every part of my  body no matter what.

Allison, 20

This is my belly. 39 years old. I had a laprascopic hysterectomy 4 weeks ago (those are my new scars!) and my innards are still a little confused I'm a substantial woman of color and sometimes I hate the way my tummy looks in clothes, but then I just touch my soft skin and I love it again.

-Jem

I love this idea SO much! My husband and I love our soft bellies; they are so much nicer to lay on than hard abs. Isn't it cool how many people have enjoyed looking at all the pictures of soft, round, real bellies? Here is my belly, stuffed full of Thanksgiving treats and with no regrets. I didn't wear a bikini until I was 30. Mostly because I was ashamed of my belly. I have embraced the softness and here it is!

This is my belly! I'm still in high school, and reading this made me feel so much better about myself. A side view of my stomach would have shown it's "other" features. Being on the swim team and volunteering as a model for the local mall, I have always been self-concious and thought of myself as fat, but now I can be proud of my tummy and the way it looks. It's amazing how much an article can change how you feel about yourself. Everyone has a beautiful tummy! :)

I haven't grown any babies in here, but  I have sure grown a lot of self-hate. I think maybe, just maybe, I'm done with that.

Not sure if you're still taking submissions but I really liked the show us your bellies!  Its taken years to be comfortable with my belly but I am proud of my belly and all its contents

Alicia, 24